United News of Bangladesh

Donald Trump has spent months laying the groundwork to challenge the results of the 2024 election if he loses — just as he did four years ago. At rally after rally, he urges his supporters to deliver a victory “too big to rig," telling them the only way he can lose is if Democrats cheat. He has refused to say, repeatedly, whether he will accept the results regardless of the outcome. And he's claimed cheating is already underway, citing debunked claims or outrageous theories with no basis in reality. “The only thing that can stop us is the cheating. It’s the only thing that can stop us," he said at an event in Arizona late Thursday night. In 2020, Trump prematurely declared victory from the White House. He launched a legal and political effort to overturn his loss to Democrat Joe Biden that culminated in the storming of the Capitol by his supporters on Jan. 6, 2021. Democrats fear he may do the same thing this year before the race is called. He wouldn't answer a question Friday in Dearborn, Michigan, about those Democratic concerns, instead pivoting to attacking Vice President Kamala Harris. Trump has made election lies central to his 2024 campaign, issuing fevered warnings about fraud while promising to take retribution against people he sees as standing in his way. Harris promises to 'represent all Americans' after Biden's remark on Trump supporters and 'garbage' This year, he is backed by a sophisticated “election integrity” operation built by his campaign and the Republican National Committee that has filed more than 130 lawsuits already and signed up more than 230,000 volunteers being trained to deploy as poll watchers and poll workers across the country on Election Day. Here's a look at Trump's strategy to sow doubt in this year's election and the facts behind each claim. Non-citizen voting THE CLAIM: Trump has alleged, without evidence, that Democrats have allowed millions of migrants to enter the country illegally so that they can be registered to vote. In an interview with Newsmax in September, Trump alleged such efforts were already underway. "They are working overtime trying to sign people, illegally, to vote in the election," he claimed. “They’re working overtime to sign people and register people — many of the same people that you just see come across the border. Which is probably their original thought, because why else would they want to destroy our country?” THE FACTS: It takes years for newcomers to become citizens and only citizens can legally cast ballots in federal elections. Isolated cases of noncitizens being caught trying to vote — like a University of Michigan student from China arrested for allegedly casting an illegal ballot — do not reflect a larger conspiracy. Research has shown noncitizens illegally registering and casting ballots is extremely rare and usually done by mistake. Overseas ballots THE CLAIM: Trump has pointed to Democratic efforts to secure the votes of Americans living abroad as another opportunity for fraud. He's alleged that they are “getting ready to CHEAT!” and ”want to “dilute the TRUE vote of our beautiful military and their families.” THE FACTS: The former president has himself campaigned for the votes of Americans overseas, promising to end so-called “double taxation” for people who often pay taxes in the country where they reside as well as to the U.S. government. Ominous warnings THE CLAIM: Trump has begun to suggest that Harris might have access to some kind of secret inside information about the outcome of a race that has yet to be decided. Since the vice president took a day off from the trail to sit for interviews with Telemundo and NBC, he has repeatedly suggested, “Maybe she knows something we don't know." Arab American voters make their choice: Harris, Trump or neither In Michigan last weekend, he suggested there is no way Harris would be campaigning with Beyoncé — one of the biggest stars in the world — if the race were really as close as polls suggest. “Number one, they cheat like hell. So maybe they know something that we don’t, right?" he said. "They might know something that we don’t, I don’t know. Why the hell would she be celebrating when you’re down? Maybe — never thought of that — maybe she knows something we don’t. But we’re not going to let it happen.” THE FACTS: There is no evidence to support a Democratic conspiracy. Indeed, Trump fanned fears of his own inside planning at a rally at New York's Madison Square Garden when he looked at House Speaker Mike Johnson and talked about a “little secret” they had. Johnson, before becoming speaker, took the lead in drafting a widely panned brief seeking to overturn Trump's 2020 loss and echoed some of the wilder conspiracy theories to explain away his loss. Asked about Trump's reference to a “little secret,” Johnson issued a statement that included the following: “By definition, a secret is not to be shared — and I don’t intend to share this one.” (He later told an audience that it related to “one of our tactics on get-out-the-vote,” according to The Hill. Trump's campaign issued a statement noting he had “done countless tele-rallies” to help bolster Republican congressional candidates.) Turning to Pennsylvania THE CLAIM: Trump in recent days has turned his ire on Pennsylvania, a state that both campaigns view as critical, and where he's claimed cheating is already underway. Earlier this week, he claimed York County, Pennsylvania, had “received THOUSANDS of potentially FRAUDULENT Voter Registration Forms and Mail-In Ballot Applications from a third party group." He has also pointed to Lancaster County, which he claimed had been “caught with 2600 Fake Ballots and Forms, all written by the same person. Really bad ‘stuff.’” During a campaign event in Allentown on Tuesday, the former president said: “They’ve already started cheating in Lancaster. They’ve cheated. We caught ’em with 2,600 votes. No, we caught them cold. 2,600 votes. Think of this, think of this. And every vote was written by the same person.” THE FACTS: In Lancaster, County District Attorney Heather Adams, an elected Republican, has said election workers raised concerns about two sets of voter registration applications because of what she described as numerous similarities. Officials are now examining a total of about 2,500 forms. To be clear, Lancaster is looking into voter registration applications, not “votes.” Lancaster officials said some forms contained false names, suspicious handwriting, questionable signatures, incorrect addresses or other problematic details, but did not say they were all written by the same person. York County Chief Clerk Greg Monskie confirmed this week that his county was reviewing suspect forms. County Commissioner Julie Wheeler issued a statement saying voter registration forms and mail-in ballot applications were among a “large delivery containing thousands of election-related materials” that the county elections office received from a third-party organization. Officials in the state say the discovery and investigation into the applications — not votes — is evidence the system is working as it should. Threats of prosecution THE CLAIM: Trump has threatened severe consequences for those engaged in what he deems “unscrupulous behavior.” In one social media post that falsely cites “the rampant Cheating and Skullduggery that has taken place by the Democrats in the 2020 Presidential Election,” he has warned that, “WHEN I WIN, those people that CHEATED will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the Law, which will include long term prison sentences." The posts go on to threaten “Those involved in unscrupulous behavior,” including election officials, lawyers, and donors, whom he says “will be sought out, caught, and prosecuted at levels, unfortunately, never seen before in our Country.” THE FACTS: Judges, election officials and even Trump’s own attorney general, William Barr, have all affirmed that there was no widespread cheating in the 2020 election. If he’s elected again, Trump has vowed to go after rivals he has deemed “enemies from within,” including saying he would appoint a special prosecutor to target Biden. That’s more than a theoretical threat given that when he was president, Trump repeatedly pressed for investigations into perceived political adversaries. While the Justice Department does have checks in place meant to ward off political influence, Trump could appoint leaders who would facilitate cases being opened at his behest.

Next week’s presidential election isn’t just a referendum on Donald Trump and Kamala Harris. It’s also a measure of the influence the world’s richest man wields over American democracy. Elon Musk, the South African-born tech and business titan, has spent at least $119 million mobilizing Trump’s supporters to back the Republican nominee. His social media platform, X, has become a firehose of pro-Trump propaganda. And he’s playing a starring role in Trump-style rallies in critical battleground states. All the while, he’s coming under growing scrutiny. He skipped a hearing on Thursday in a lawsuit over his effort to dole out millions of dollars to registered voters, a giveaway legal experts liken to vote buying. He’s being investigated by the Securities and Exchange Commission. And The Wall Street Journal recently reported that Musk regularly communicates with Russian President Vladimir Putin, a potential national security risk because SpaceX, his aerospace company, holds billions of dollars worth of contracts with NASA and the Department of Defense. Just 5 days left as Harris, Trump battle for votes Musk is hardly the only person whose megawealth places him at the nexus of politics, business and foreign policy. But few are working so publicly for a single candidate as Musk, whose expansive business ties and growing bravado pose a vexing test of one unelected person’s political power. His stature is perhaps one of the most tangible consequence of the Supreme Court’s 2010 Citizens United decision, which eliminated many limits on political giving. “This is definitely an election brought to you by Citizens United,” said Daniel I. Weiner, the director of elections and government at the Brennan Center for Justice, who added that the phenomenon was bigger that just Musk. “What this is really about is a transformation of our campaign finance system to one in which the wealthiest donors are playing a central role.” Musk did not respond to a request for comment made through his attorney. Tesla, his electric car company, and X did not respond to inquiries. SpaceX disputed parts of The Journal’s reporting in a statement and said it continues to work in “close partnership with the U.S. Government.” Musk’s recent conversion to ‘Dark MAGA’ Musk’s conversion to a self-described “Dark MAGA” Trump warrior is a recent one. In the past, he donated modest sums to both Republicans and Democrats, including $5,000 to Hillary Clinton in 2016, records show. He didn’t contribute to Trump’s political efforts until this year, according to federal campaign finance disclosures. He was all in once he did. Musk is now leading America PAC, a super political action committee that is spearheading Trump’s get-out-the-vote effort. As a newcomer to politics, there have been growing pains. Over the summer, America PAC struggled to reach its voter contact goals. Musk brought in a new team of political consultants, Generra Peck and Phil Cox, who worked on Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis ’ losing Republican presidential primary bid. On paper, the numbers have improved. But Republican officials, operatives and activists say in some critical places it’s been difficult to tell how active the PAC’s ground effort has been. The PAC’s presence is not perceptible in rural Georgia, according to three Republican strategists who are closely monitoring the ground game in the battleground state. For example, America PAC has shown little evidence of leaving literature behind on doorsteps, as is common when a voter is not home, especially in remote places, the three people said. Harris promises to 'represent all Americans' after Biden's remark on Trump supporters and 'garbage' There are also indicators Musk, a tech innovator, has been taken advantage of at his own game. In Nevada, three other people familiar with America PAC’s efforts said hired canvassers paid tech-savvy operatives to digitally manipulate an app used to track their progress — appearing to falsify their data so they could get paid for work that they did not do. Canvassers are typically paid by the number of doors that they knock on. There are signs the practice wasn’t limited to Nevada. One person warned America PAC leadership weeks ago that canvasing data from multiple states showed signs that it had been falsified, but their concerns were not acted on, according to two people with knowledge of the matter. The individuals, like others who provided details about Musk’s political operation, insisted on anonymity to discuss the matter out of fear of retribution. Musk has become frustrated with his PAC Musk has become frustrated with the inner workings of his political organization and has brought in private sector associates, including Steve Davis, president of the Boring company, Musk’s tunnel building company, according to three people with knowledge of the move. Davis’ role with America PAC was first reported by The New York Times. A person close to the PAC disputed that the group had been taken advantage of, suggesting it was a conspiracy theory based on a poor understanding of how political canvassing works. The person insisted on anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss the innerworkings of the PAC. Musk has more riding on the election than just bragging rights. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the main agency that regulates Tesla, has repeatedly proved to be a thorn for the electric car maker run by Musk, which is the primary source of his wealth. The agency is overseeing more than a dozen recalls, some that Tesla resisted. It has also opened investigations that have raised doubts about Musk’s claims that Tesla is close to deploying self-driving vehicles, a key expectation of shareholders and a major driver of Tesla’s lofty share price. Earlier this year Tesla disclosed that the Department of Justice and the SEC have requested and subpoenaed information about “Full Self-Driving” capability, vehicle functionality, data privacy and other matters. The social media platform X is another Musk company that has drawn interest of the Biden administration. The Federal Trade Commission has probed Musk’s handling of sensitive consumer data after he took control of the company in 2022, but has not brought enforcement action. The SEC has an ongoing investigation of Musk’s purchase of the social media company. Many of these troubles, which Musk blames President Joe Biden and Democrats for, could go away if Trump is elected. The former president has mused that Musk could have a formal role in a future Trump administration that focuses on government efficiency — an enormous conflict of interest given Musk’s companies vast dealings with the government.

A heartbreaking event took place on Monday night when Chianti Means, a 33-year-old woman from the US, and her two children—a nine-year-old and a five-month-old—tragically died after jumping off Niagara Falls. Reports indicate that Chianti intentionally climbed over a safety rail at Luna Island, a popular viewing area with a nearly 200-foot drop. Authorities arrived on the scene around 9pm and determined that the fall was intentional. According to the New York State Police, “The investigation has determined that this incident was intentional in nature, though the circumstances remain under investigation.” They also mentioned that search and rescue efforts yielded no results and confirmed there is no threat to public safety. Chianti was a resident of Niagara Falls and worked as a domestic violence counselor, having graduated from a local school in Buffalo. As of Wednesday, there has been no update on the recovery of their bodies. Following the tragic news, friends and family expressed their sorrow on social media. While the circumstances are still being investigated, the inquiry has concluded that this incident was purposeful in character. Search and rescue operations by the State Police and New York State Park Police were unsuccessful. The department also stated that there is no public safety hazard from this incident. Chianti was a mother of two who resided in Niagara Falls with her four kids. Tributes from friends and family began to come in shortly following the announcement of her passing. My friend Kayshawna Morgane posted on Facebook, "My heart is broken," and added, "I have been speechless and crying and couldn't sleep at all." Mental health is serious business. "I can't even bring myself to share memories and write a post about her.I can't even handle the feelings I am experiencing, and I am genuinely nauseated. "Please know that my children and I adore her and her children," pal Mich Molina said. Another person, Niesha Eukeya, stated, "You really never know what anybody is going through," Sources: agencies        

Rowdy crowds took to the streets in Los Angeles after the Dodgers won the World Series, setting a bus on fire, breaking into stores and setting off firecrackers. A dozen arrests were reported by police early Thursday. Video showed some people throwing objects at police in Los Angeles as sirens blared and officers told them to leave the area after the Dodgers defeated the Yankees in Game 5 in New York. There were some “unruly, and at times violent and hostile celebrations,” with several acts of vandalism, including the burning of a Metropolitan Transit Authority bus, Los Angeles police spokesperson Officer Drake Madison said in an email. Arrests were on charges such as failure to disperse, receiving stolen property or commercial burglary, Madison said. There were also several instances of street takeovers downtown and police used less-lethal munitions to control several hostile and violent crowds, Madison said. In the coming days, detectives will attempt to identify those responsible for crimes, he said. Other video showed revelers standing on top of a bus waving a Dodgers banner and other people leaving a boarded-up store with sneakers. It wasn’t known if anyone was hurt. An email was sent to the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transit Authority. The Dodgers plan to commemorate their World Series championship on Friday with a downtown parade followed by a celebration at Dodger Stadium. The team said Wednesday that because of logistics, traffic and timing, fans won’t be able to attend both events.

Kamala Harris called Wednesday for Americans to “stop pointing fingers at each other” as she tried to push past comments made by President Joe Biden about Donald Trump's supporters and “garbage " and keep the focus on her Republican opponent in the closing days of the race. “We know we have an opportunity in this election to turn the page on a decade of Donald Trump, who has been trying to keep us divided and afraid of each other," the Democratic nominee said. Harris held rallies in a trio of battleground states as part of a blitz in the closing week of the election, with stops Wednesday in Raleigh, North Carolina; Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; and Madison, Wisconsin. She stressed unity and common ground, expanding on her capstone speech Tuesday in Washington, where she laid out what her team called the “closing argument” of her campaign. “I am not looking to score political points,” the vice president said. “I am looking to make progress.” As she waited for Harris to take the stage in Raleigh, 35-year-old Liz Kazal said she was “cautiously optimistic” about the election. She’s tried to volunteer for the campaign every week, including making phone calls, knocking on doors with her toddler daughter and raising money for Harris’ candidacy. “You hope for the best and plan for the worst,” Kazal said. Meanwhile, the White House rushed to explain that the president's comment about “garbage” was a reference to rhetoric from Trump allies, not Trump’s supporters themselves. Press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Biden “does not view Trump supporters or anybody who supports Trump as garbage.” The controversy began Tuesday — at the same time Harris was speaking near the White House — when Biden participated in a campaign call organized by the Hispanic advocacy group Voto Latino. Biden used the opportunity to criticize Sunday's Madison Square Garden rally, where a comedian described Puerto Rico as a “floating island of garbage.” “The only garbage I see floating out there is his supporters. His demonization of Latinos is unconscionable, and it’s un-American,” Biden said. “It’s totally contrary to everything we’ve done, everything we’ve been.” Biden suggests Trump supporters are 'garbage' after comic's insult of Puerto Rico Harris told reporters before boarding Air Force Two for her flight to Raleigh that she disagrees "with any criticism of people based on who they vote for.” “I will represent all Americans, including those who don’t vote for me,” she said. Her words were an attempt to blunt the controversy over Biden's comments and put some distance between herself and the president, something she has struggled with in the past. Republicans seized on Biden’s comments, claiming they were an echo of the time when Hillary Clinton, as the Democratic nominee in 2016, said half of Trump’s supporters belonged in a “basket of deplorables.” “We know what they believe. Because look how they’ve treated you,” Trump said at his rally in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, on Wednesday. “They’ve treated you like garbage. The truth is, they’ve treated our whole country like garbage.” He also said, “Without question, my supporters are far higher-quality than Crooked Joe’s," using his nickname for the president. After landing in Green Bay, Wisconsin, for another rally later in the day, Trump posed for photos while wearing a neon orange and yellow vest and sitting in the passenger seat of a garbage truck festooned with American flags and campaign signs. “How do you like my garbage truck?” Trump said as he took questions from reporters. "Joe Biden should be ashamed of himself, if he knows what he’s even doing," Trump said. Travis Waters, 54, who attended Harris' second rally of the day in Harrisburg, shrugged off the commotion over Biden's comments. “Donald Trump has said so much about so many other groups and I don’t hear the media having the same outrage,” Waters said. In attacking Biden — and by extension, Harris — Republicans have glossed over Trump’s own history of insulting and demonizing rhetoric, such as calling the United States a “garbage can for the world” or describing political opponents as “the enemy within.” Trump has also described Harris as a “stupid person” and “lazy as hell,” and he’s questioned whether she was on drugs. Trump has also refused demands to apologize for the comment about Puerto Rico at his rally, acknowledging that “somebody said some bad things” but adding that he “can’t imagine it’s a big deal.” Harris reaches for a big moment in her closing argument for 'turning the page' on Trump Political attack lines have a history of occasionally boomeranging back on people who use them. For example, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, now Trump's running mate, once described Democrats as beholden to “a bunch of childless cat ladies who are miserable at their own lives and the choices that they’ve made.” Vance's 3-year-old comments resurfaced once he became the vice presidential nominee, energizing Harris supporters who repurposed the label as a point of pride on shirts and bumper stickers — much like Trump’s supporters once cheerfully branded themselves as “deplorables.” At each of Harris' rallies, she was confronted by pro-Palestinian protestors objecting to her support for Israel's military campaign against Hamas in Gaza. “We all want the war in Gaza to end and get the hostages out," Harris said during one interruption in Madison. Then she added, “Everyone has a right to be heard, but right now I’m speaking.” The crowd roared in approval, drowning out another group of protestors who unfurled a banner saying “No Funding for War Crimes." With just days to go before the end of the campaign, many of Harris' supporters were on edge. Holly Meyer, 65, said she was nervous as she attended the Madison rally. “But I’m also optimistic,” she said. “People just seem to be energized by Vice President Harris.”

President Joe Biden took a swipe against Donald Trump's supporters on Tuesday as he reacted to the Republican presidential nominee's weekend rally at Madison Square Garden, which was overshadowed by crude and racist rhetoric. In a call organized by the Hispanic advocacy group Voto Latino, Biden responded to a comic at Trump's rally who called Puerto Rico a “floating island of garbage.” Biden's initial comments were garbled. “Just the other day, a speaker at his rally called Puerto Rico a floating island of garbage. Well, let me tell you something, I don’t, I don’t know the Puerto Rican that I know, the Puerto Rico where I’m fr -- in my home state of Delaware. They’re good, decent honorable people,” he said. The president then added: “The only garbage I see floating out there is his supporters. His demonization of Latinos is unconscionable, and it’s un-American. It’s totally contrary to everything we’ve done, everything we’ve been.” White House spokesman Andrew Bates said Biden “referred to the hateful rhetoric at the Madison Square Garden rally as ‘garbage.’” Harris reaches for a big moment in her closing argument for 'turning the page' on Trump Biden then took to social media to personally clarify what he said. “Earlier today I referred to the hateful rhetoric about Puerto Rico spewed by Trump’s supporter at his Madison Square Garden rally as garbage — which is the only word I can think of to describe it,” he posted on X. “His demonization of Latinos is unconscionable. That’s all I meant to say. The comments at that rally don’t reflect who we are as a nation.” In referring to Trump's supporters as “garbage,” however, Biden's tone was at odds with the message that Democratic nominee Kamala Harris is seeking to present as she aims to cast a broad appeal, including to disaffected Republicans. Shortly after Biden's comments, Harris spoke from the Ellipse in Washington, vowing to be a president who would unite the country. “I pledge to be a president for all Americans,” said Harris, who is Biden's vice president. Republicans quickly highlighted Biden's remark. Trump called up Florida Sen. Marco Rubio during his rally in Allentown, Pennsylvania, to recount what happened. “Moments ago Joe Biden stated that our supporters, our patriots, are garbage,” Rubio said. ”He’s talking about everyday Americans who love their country.” Trump campaign spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said in a subsequent statement, “There’s no way to spin it: Joe Biden and Kamala Harris don’t just hate President Trump, they despise the tens of millions of Americans who support him." A Trump campaign fundraising text declared, “KAMALA’S BOSS JOE BIDEN JUST CALLED ALL MY SUPPORTERS GARBAGE!” before ensuring recipients that Trump himself thinks, “YOU ARE AMAZING!” Even some prominent Democrats began distancing themselves from Biden's comments. Speaking on CNN, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said he would “never insult the good people of Pennsylvania or any Americans even if they chose to support a candidate that I didn't support.” Housing on the ballot: Harris, Trump push different plans for tackling housing affordability crisis The comments recalled then-Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton dismissing Trump supporters during a 2016 fundraiser in New York by saying that half would fit into a “ basket of deplorables.” Clinton later called that characterization “grossly generalistic.” But it became a defiant rallying cry for many Trump backers who said the insult encapsulated the elitist attitudes of Clinton and the Democrats. As reactions to Biden's reaction began to fly, meanwhile, Trump was asked in an interview Tuesday night with Fox News Channel’s Sean Hannity about the racist and vulgar joke at his New York rally. He responded: “Somebody said there was a comedian that joked about Puerto Rico or something. And I have no idea who he is.” The former president added, "I can’t imagine it’s a big deal.” At a rally Tuesday in Allentown, Pennsylvania, a city with a large Hispanic population, Trump repeated his claim that Biden's immigration policies have allowed other countries to treat the U.S. like “a giant garbage can.” With Election Day now just a week off, Biden has worked to maintain relevance, furiously promoting his administration’s accomplishments while Harris in her race against Trump. But his efforts to remain in the political spotlight might not always be so helpful for the top of the Democratic ticket he’s now promoting. That’s because, while Harris has been sharply critical of Trump for months, repeatedly calling him “unstable” and “unhinged” and even suggesting that he was “ fascist,” she has been careful not to decry his supporters. In fact, the vice president has campaigned extensively with former Republican Rep. Liz Cheney and other former GOP elected officials — hoping to woo conservative crossover voters. The Democratic convention — and Harris ads — have highlighted the stories of everyday Americans who talked about having voted for Trump in the past but now say they are supporting the vice president. On Tuesday’s call, Biden also said that Trump “doesn’t give a damn about the Latino community” and urged rejection of the former president even as Trump’s campaign says its support is rising among Hispanics, particularly men. “Vote to keep Donald Trump out of the White House,” Biden said. “He’s a true danger to, not just Latinos but to all people. Particularly those who are in a minority in this country.”

CNN has banned conservative writer Ryan Gidursky from the network following a contentious on-air exchange where he told panelist Mehdi Hasan that “I hope your beeper doesn't go off.” “Did you just say I should die?” Hasan said, responding to Gidursky's apparent reference to September's attack where pagers used by hundreds of Hezbollah members in Lebanon and Syria exploded simultaneously. The attack was widely believed to be carried out by Israel. Hasan and Gidursky were on a panel on “News Night” Monday night, talking about Donald Trump's rally at Madison Square Garden, where speakers made a variety of racist comments and referred to Puerto Rico as a "floating island of garbage.” The panel discussion devolved into back-and-forth bickering after Gidursky said to Hasan, a commentator and founder of the media company Zeteo, that “you've been called an anti-Semite more than anyone else at this table.” Host Abby Phillip said that Gidursky's beeper comment was “completely out of pocket” and he apologized. But after a commercial break, he was gone. Philip apologized to Hasan and to viewers. She said Gidursky, author of the book “They're Not Listening: How the Elites Created the National Populist Revolution,” had crossed a line. CNN was having a heated discussion about the Trump rally, where the racist and other demeaning language was a sign of how tensions are coming to a boil with only a week to go until a highly contested and contentious Election Day that reflects the nation's political and cultural fissures. Despite that fragmentation, Phillip said that “we can have conversations about what is happening in this country without resorting to the lowest ... kind of discourse.” CNN, saying there is “zero room for racism or bigotry at CNN or on our air,” said that Gidursky would not be allowed back on the network. Gidursky responded in a post on X: “You can stay on CNN if you falsely call every Republican a Nazi” but apparently can't “if you make a joke. I'm glad America gets to see what CNN stands for.”

Vice President Kamala Harris will make the “ closing argument ” for her presidential campaign Tuesday from the same site where Donald Trumpfomented the Capitol insurrection, hoping it offers a stark visualization of the alternate futures that voters face if she or Trump takes over the Oval Office. One week out from Election Day, Harris was to use her 7:30 p.m. ET address from the grassy Ellipse near the White House to pledge to Americans that she will work to improve their lives while arguing that her Republican opponent is only in it for himself. She hoped to sharpen that contrast by delivering her capstone speech from the place where Trump on Jan. 6, 2021, spewed falsehoods about the 2020 presidential election that inspired a crowd to march to the Capitol and try unsuccessfully to halt the certification of Democrat Joe Biden's victory. With time running out and the race tight, Harris and Trump have both sought big moments to try to shift momentum their way. “It’s a place that certainly we believe helps crystalize the choice in this election,” Harris campaign chair Jen O’Malley Dillon said of the setting, calling it “a stark visualization of probably the most infamous example of Donald Trump and how he’s used his power for bad.” Campaign aides stressed that Harris will not deliver a treatise on democracy — a staple of President Joe Biden’s own attempts to draw a contrast with Trump — or spend too much time focusing directly on the shocking imagery of that day. Harris aides said the vice president aims to make a broader case for why voters should reject Trump and consider what she offers. “There’s a big difference between he and I,” Harris told reporters Monday in previewing her speech. “If he were elected, on day one he’s going to sit in the Oval Office working on his enemies list. On day one, if I am elected, which I fully expect to be, I will be working on behalf of the American people on my to-do list.” Her campaign hoped to draw a massive crowd to Washington for the event. But, more critically, her campaign hopes the setting will help catch the attention of battleground state voters who remain on the fence about whom to vote for — or whether to vote at all. The address comes days after Harris traveled to Texas, a reliably Republican state, to appear with megastar Beyoncé and emphasize the consequences for women after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. That, too, was a speech meant to register with voters far away in the battleground states. The vice president’s latest address has been in the works for weeks. But aides hoped her message would land with more impact after Trump’s rally Sunday at Madison Square Garden in New York, where speakers hurled cruel and racist insults. Harris said the event “highlighted the point that I’ve been making throughout this campaign.” “He is focused and actually fixated on his grievances, on himself and on dividing our country,” she said. Harris was expected to use her speech to lay out a pragmatic and forward-looking plan for the country, including reminding voters about her economic proposals and pledging to work for access to reproductive care, including abortion. “That stark contrast has real power when she’s delivering solutions and Trump is sowing division and hate,” O'Malley Dillon said. Also central to her message: positioning herself as a “new generation” of leader after Trump and even her current boss, Biden. She's going to be “talking about what her new generation of leadership really means and centering that around the American people and what they care about," O’Malley Dillon said. As for Trump, Harris said Monday, “People are literally ready to turn the page. They’re tired of it.” Ahead of Harris’ speech, Trump used remarks to reporters at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida on Tuesday morning to accuse Harris of closing with a message that doesn’t address everyday Americans’ day-to-day struggles and kitchen-table concerns. He said Harris keeps “talking about Hitler, and Nazis, because her record’s horrible,” a reference to Harris amplifying the warnings from his former chief of staff that Trump spoke admiringly of the Nazi leader while in office. Harris' aides, many of whom also advised Biden’s campaign before he dropped out, still believe that centering the race on who Trump is and how she's different will be their strongest message for voters. “She’s already made her case, she’s presented the evidence. She’s offering up a summation tonight, and she has faith in the wisdom of the jury," campaign communications director Michael Tyler said. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, said it was important for battleground voters to be reminded of the consequences of their choice this fall and for Harris “to really drive home the stakes of this election and the clear contrast in the race.” He said Harris had the stronger argument on economic policies, reproductive freedom and the matter of chaos vs. order, adding that she "has a vision that’s going to bring more order and more hopefulness and more joy.” Harris was spending the day ahead of her speech taping television interviews airing in Detroit, Milwaukee, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, and Spanish language radio in Pennsylvania, her campaign said.

Bowls of labneh and platters of za’atar bread covered the tables in a Lebanese restaurant near Detroit, yet no one seemed to have much of an appetite. On one side were Kamala Harris ’ top emissaries to the Arab American community. On the other were local leaders who were explaining — once again — why many in the community couldn’t vote for the vice president because of the war in Gaza. “I love this country, but I’ll tell you, we have never been so disappointed in this country as we are now,” said Nabih H. Ayad, chairman of the Arab American Civil Rights League. “We wanted to give the Democratic Party the opportunity to do something, and they haven’t.” “The one line we can’t cross," Ayad said, “is genocide.” Nasrina Bargzie and Brenda Abdelal, who were hired by Harris' campaign to spearhead Arab and Muslim outreach, listened intently but said little in response. If Harris loses Michigan and the presidential election next week, it’s conversations like this one that could explain why. The Detroit area has the country’s largest concentration of Arab Americans, and Democrats fear that Harris will pay a steep political price for U.S. support for Israel, which rejects allegations that its military operations in Gaza constitute a genocide. Community members who normally back Democrats said they face an impossible decision. Either they punish Harris for what they view as complicity in the deaths of at least 43,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, or they endure Donald Trump 's return to the White House, which they fear would revive discrimination toward their community. A reminder of the situation's complexity came in Ann Arbor on Monday night, when Harris held a campaign rally. Assad Turfe, one of the few Arab American elected officials in Michigan to endorse the vice president, said his community needs someone “who sees us, who understands us and who will give voice to our pain," adding that "without a doubt that Kamala Harris is that leader.” But as Harris began her remarks, pro-Palestinian protesters interrupted by chanting, “Israel bombs, Kamala pays, how many kids have you killed today?” Harris responded, “hey guys, I hear you” and “we all want this war to end as soon as possible.” It's unclear how many skeptics Harris will be able to win over, especially since she has not proposed any concrete changes on U.S. policy toward Israel or the war in Gaza. Four years ago, Joe Biden won by a 3-to-1 margin in Dearborn, where nearly half of the 110,000 residents are of Arab descent. Now Democrats are concerned some of these voters will go to Trump or third-party candidates like Jill Stein. "They're split. There are those who will vote for Harris, recognizing that they could get a seat at the table," said U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., who convened the recent meeting at the Lebanese restaurant in his efforts to help the Harris campaign. "But there's a chunk that will vote for Stein or stay at home. Then there's a minority who will vote for Trump.” Trump has secured a number of endorsements from Muslims in the area, including from two Democratic mayors who represent Muslim-majority cities outside Detroit. He brought several Muslims on stage at a rally in metro Detroit on Saturday. He argues he will put “a stop to the endless wars” and notes the Abraham Accords that Israel signed with several Arab nations during his presidency. He has also mocked Harris' embrace of former Rep. Liz Cheney, a conservative Republican whose father, former Vice President Dick Cheney, was a key force behind the U.S. invasion of Iraq. Harris is campaigning with Liz Cheney to try to pull away moderate Republicans turned off by Trump in Michigan and elsewhere. But many top Arab American leaders — even those who have not endorsed Harris — are still deeply negative toward Trump and say his endorsements don't reflect a majority of the community. They also remember his call for a “total and complete shutdown” on Muslims entering the country and his travel restrictions on visitors from Muslim-majority countries. And some point out that Trump has suggested that he would give Israel even more leeway to attack its rivals in the region. Harris wins over someone who backed the ‘uncommitted’ movementTurfe, a Lebanese American and the deputy executive of Wayne County, is among the few Arab American leaders in Michigan to have endorsed Harris. He says it’s to ensure the community doesn’t return to a Trump presidency that “opened up old wounds for the generation that lived through those post 9/11 years.” Turfe said he was jolted awake by immigration agents in 2005 when they came to detain his wife, who had come to the country when she was 2 years old and was unaware that she didn’t have legal citizenship. “They came for her and they ripped my family apart,” he said. Then in 2006, Turfe’s two grandmothers were killed in Lebanon as Israel fought with Hezbollah in a war backed by President George W. Bush. Turfe said his community was primarily Republican until those years. But members moved toward the Democrats during Barack Obama’s presidency and then helped Biden beat Trump in 2020. Those political bonds are now ruptured. Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing 1,200 Israelis and kidnapping more than 200 hostages. Israel launched its offensive shortly afterward with military and diplomatic support from Biden's administration. As civilian casualties mounted in Gaza, anti-war Democrats in Michigan and elsewhere launched a protest vote movement in the Democratic primary. They garnered over 100,000 “uncommitted” votes, with the majority coming from the state’s Muslim-majority cities like Dearborn. Turfe was part of the “uncommitted” movement while Biden was running for reelection, but he said he changed his mind when Harris became the nominee. He endorsed her in August and met her before a rally near Detroit in October. He said he told Harris about his grandmothers’ deaths nearly two decades ago, and “I felt her empathy.” “She felt my pain,” Turfe said. Turfe’s endorsement has sparked a backlash. On social media, photoshopped images accuse him of endorsing atrocities in Gaza. He's also received text messages labeling him a traitor. Longstanding relationships in his hometown of Dearborn have become strained. Dearborn resident Suehaila Amen is accustomed to having her community in the national spotlight, having starred in the 2012 TLC reality series “All-American Muslim.” A lifelong Democrat, Amen said she won't be voting for Harris. “They want to send their people to come and scope and see how we’re feeling because now they’re scared that they’re going to be losing a swing state,” said Amen, who lived in Lebanon from 2017 to 2021. “But, you know, if she loses, it’s by her own doing, by her own hand, and she’ll deserve it.” Amen said she doesn’t want Trump to win but “I have to, at the end of the day, sleep at night." Harris makes her closing argument to Arab AmericansHarris made a rare reference to Israel’s fight against Hamas and Hezbollah during a recent speech in Oakland County, outside of Detroit. “This year has been very difficult, given the scale of death and destruction in Gaza and given the civilian casualties and displacement in Lebanon,” she said. The death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, she said, “can and must be a turning point.” Harris also said she is “very proud to have the support” of Turfe and other Muslim leaders. But Harris has not called for any reduction in the flow of U.S. weapons to Israel, and her campaign did not allow a pro-Palestinian speaker to take the stage at August's Democratic National Convention, a key demand of the “uncommitted” movement. Khanna, a progressive Democrat from California, has stayed in close contact with Arab American leaders in metro Detroit for months and received the “Profile in Courage” award from the Arab American Civil Rights League this summer. Khanna is Hindu but said his family’s background has given him shared experiences with Arab Americans. During the Oct. 26 meeting with Arab American leaders, Khanna sat next to Harris' Arab and Muslim outreach directors while acknowledging that “not enough” has been done by Harris to help end the Israel-Hamas war. “If Trump is elected, people like me won’t be in any of the rooms,” Khanna said. “Harris gives people like us a seat at the table to advocate for you." It's the kind of message that resonates with Mike Musheinesh, a Palestinian American who runs his own auto parts store and attended the meeting. He said the community should vote for Harris “even if we have to hold our nose.” “If we want a seat at the table, we need to help her over the finish line,” he said.

In a political climate already charged with tension, a recent AP-NORC poll reveals that American voters harbour significant concerns about potential violence, interference, and threats to democracy following the upcoming presidential election. Many are anxious about the possibility of disruptions to the peaceful transfer of power in the world’s oldest democracy, especially given the events that followed the 2020 election. The survey, conducted by The Associated Press-NORC Centre for Public Affairs Research, indicates a profound unease among voters about the stability of the electoral process. Trump's Madison Square Garden event features crude, racist insults Nearly four years after former President Donald Trump’s refusal to accept his 2020 defeat, which culminated in a violent assault on the US Capitol, approximately 40% of registered voters report feeling “extremely” or “very” concerned about post-election violence. A similar proportion fears legal attempts to overturn the results, while about a third of respondents worry that local or state officials may refuse to certify the election outcome. A Landscape of Persistent Concerns Despite assurances about election integrity from various officials, voters across the political spectrum remain sceptical. Many say they fear legal manoeuvres could upend the results, while about a third of respondents express apprehension about election officials potentially interfering with the process. Interestingly, only around one-third of those surveyed expressed minimal or no concern, highlighting a pervading scepticism regarding the political landscape. Harris calls Trump 'fascist' after ex-aide's Hitler comparison Fuelled by repeated assertions of fraud, Trump has continued to allege that his 2020 loss was the result of rigging. He has also pre-emptively suggested that the 2024 election outcome will be suspect if he does not emerge victorious. His supporters and the Republican National Committee have filed legal challenges across multiple states, a move viewed by many as groundwork for contesting the election should he lose again. Aostara Kaye, a voter from Downey, California, voiced frustration over Trump’s continued influence. “I thought after January 6 of 2021, the GOP would have the sense to reject him as a candidate. Since they didn’t, it’s emboldened him to think he can do anything,” she remarked. Concerns over Trump’s Willingness to Concede In a finding reflective of the intense polarisation in the country, nearly nine in ten voters believe that the loser of the election should concede once all votes have been counted and any legal challenges resolved. However, only a third of voters are confident Trump would accept a loss, underscoring a lack of trust in his adherence to democratic norms. Views on this issue are sharply divided along party lines; approximately two-thirds of Republican voters believe Trump would concede if he loses, while only around one in ten Democrats agree. Conversely, when asked about Vice President Kamala Harris, who is anticipated to be Trump’s likely opponent, almost 80% of respondents believe she would accept a loss graciously, including a solid majority of Republican voters. Housing on the ballot: Harris, Trump push different plans for tackling housing affordability crisis This stark contrast underscores the differing perceptions surrounding each candidate’s commitment to democratic principles and the rule of law. As the 2024 election approaches, concerns about election security, interference, and acceptance of results remain at the forefront of American voters' minds. Many hope for a smooth and peaceful transition but remain anxious that post-election turbulence may undermine confidence in the nation’s democratic process.